OSLO MUSLIMS PROTEST DAGBLADET'S PUBLISHING OF A PROPHET

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 000092

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM NO
SUBJECT: OSLO MUSLIMS PROTEST DAGBLADET'S PUBLISHING OF A PROPHET
MOHAMMAD CARICATURE

REF: 09 OSLO 403; 09 OSLO 713


1. (U) Summary: Norwegian left-leaning daily Dagbladet's
published a front-page photo February 3 of suspected terrorist
Arfan Bhatti pointing out that a Prophet Mohammad caricature was
available through a link on the Police Security Services' (PST)
Facebook page. The fact that the caricature could clearly be seen,
led to peaceful protests on February 12 and 13, and sparked renewed
debate among political parties and the Norwegian Muslim community.
This also became a major story in the Norwegian press with protest
organizer Mohyeldeen Mohammad's statement serving as a flash-point
in what one political party leader termed the "stealth
Islamification" of Norway. End Summary



Reaction to the Publication

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2. (U) The caricature, published on Dagbladet's front page,
depicts the prophet Mohammed as a pig writing the Koran. In 1997,
this particular image had led to riots, flag burning and a suicide
bombing in Israel after a Russian-Jewish immigrant Tatiana Susskind
posted copies of it across the Palestinian city of Hebron.
Dagbladet's Editor in Chief Lars Helle wrote an editorial on
February 8 stating that no one had the right to demand that
Norwegian media be censored by anyone's religious views. Helle
then met Oslo Imam Mehboob ur-Rehman February 9 for a
reconciliation meeting set up by Oslo Conservative Party politician
Amir Sheikh (a key Embassy contact who awarded President Obama the
Bridge Builder Award last year). Asked by ur-Rehman to apologize,
Helle refused. He said that Dagbladet printed the cartoon to show
what was linked to the PST Facebook profile, and not, as protesters
claimed, to provoke Muslims. Liberal Muslim Amal Aden told centrist
daily Aftenposten February 12 that the printing of this cartoon is
particularly offensive and hampers the important work of dialogue
and integration. The Iranian Embassy in Oslo issued an e-mail
condemning the publication, stating that Dagbladet's printing of
the drawing was a regrettable provocation, as it served no purpose
other than to incite intolerance and hate.



Peaceful Protests

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3. (U) The February 12 demonstration's principal organizer,
24-year old Mohyeldeen Mohammad (also known as Mohyeldeen Bin
Hamad) and leader of a young, more radical group called "The
Volunteers" was widely reported as saying Allah would determine
whether the demonstrations would turn violent, although he clearly
stated in a TV interview February 10 that he would work to ensure a
peaceful demonstration. Mohammad explained that the demonstration
was not only against Dagbladet, but against the Norwegian
government for allowing an "anti-Muslim crusade" to exist in
Norway. Arfan Bhatti (reftel A and B),awaiting re-trial for an
attempted murder charge and previously charged and acquitted of
plotting attacks against the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Oslo,
was also listed as a demonstration organizer. Bhatti's exact role
in organizing the protest was unclear, although he was prominently
featured in photos, wearing an orange security vest as part of the
informal security provided by the organizers. He attempted to
downplay his own involvement, but he was aware that his presence as
a quasi-organizer of the protests brought heightened interest in
them. A police official commented that Bhatti was behaving as an
agitator rather than a leader.




4. (U) The demonstration started with a prayer service, followed
by speakers, including Mohyeldeen Mohammad, who told the
demonstrators that Norway would experience a September 11 or July 7
(date of 2005 terrorist attack in London),adding that it was a
warning, not a threat, if Norway did not show more respect. After
thirty minutes, the crowd quickly grew to almost 3000
demonstrators. While the media reported the protest as peaceful
overall, initial reporting called the protest "out of control" and
unlawful, as the crowd marched from their approved location

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(University Square) to Oslo Central Station, which was not allowed
by their permit. The Islamic Council of Norway Secretary General
Shoiab Sultan discouraged Norwegian Muslims from participating in
the protest because he feared the demonstration's organizers had an
agenda that did not reflect the views of most Muslims in Norway.
Post has good contacts with the Islamic Council of Norway: current
President Senaid Kobilica is in the U.S. on an International
Visitors Leadership program. In an interview with news service NTB
on February 12, the Muslim conservative columnist Usman Rana
supported the demonstrators' right to voice their concern but urged
a peaceful demonstration. Usman Rana previously headed the
Muslim Student Society and remains an important columnist and
medical student who has been an exchange student in the U.S. and an
advocate for U.S. style integration. On February 13 around 200-300
Muslims marched in Oslo, partly in protest against what they
perceive as anti-Muslim sentiments in Norway, but also to distance
themselves from the February 12 demonstration and Mohammad's
statements. Also, in response to the printing of the Muhammad
caricatures, approximately 1,000 taxi drivers in Oslo and Akershus
counties went on strike in the busy hours on February 6. Through
text messages taxi drivers were encouraged to participate in more
strikes. Another three hour long strike was held on the morning
rush hour on February 8.





Mohyeldeen Mohammad

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5. (U) Since the protest, the media has turned the spot light on
Mohyeldeen Mohammad. He responded to one of many interview
requests and questions by agreeing that homosexuals should be
stoned to death. As a result, The Norwegian LGBT Association
reported him to the police for violation Section 227 of the
Norwegian General Civil Penal Code for making threats. The
following day, he was placed under arrest after being reported to
the police by Dagbladet, for threatening two of its journalists. He
was later released by the police with a caution, although he had
initially gone to the police station seeking protection due to
several threatening e-mails and sms he has received since the
demonstration.




6. (U) Norwegian media Progress Party Leader (FrP) Siv Jensen said
February 13 that when she warned against the "stealth
Islamification of Norwegian society" last year, she was made a
laughing stock, and accused the GoN of not doing enough to defend
freedom of expression, implying that Foreign minister Jonas Gahr
St????re was spineless. He responded by accusing her of spreading
fear. Noting that Jensen was highly selective when she spoke of
freedom of expression, St????re said "She is all for freedom of
expression in principle until a lawful demonstration is held
against something she does not like; the very idea of freedom of
expression is that you have to tolerate things that you deeply
disagree with." PM Jen Stoltenberg commented to VG that Mohyeldeen
Mohammed's remarks about a 9/11 on Norwegian soil verged on
exhortation to terror. He characterized himself as an
uncompromising defender of freedom of expression, but noted that
the Government and the Storting have tightened restrictions on
"preparing for or exhorting to" terrorism.




7. (SBU) Comment: The fact that the protests remained peaceful
and that influential leaders in the Muslim community discouraged
demonstration attendance due to Bhatti's and Mohammad's involvement
is a positive indicator that mainstream leaders reject violence and
extremism. The debate also revealed that a significant number of
Muslims feel alienated in Norway, which could contribute to the
growing appeal of people like Mohammad and Bhatti. Also, before
this incident, radical Islam did not have a "face" in Norway. Many
people feared it existed, but only now has it been brought to the
surface with Mohammad and his sympathizers, which many consider a
good thing. Commentators have expressed concern that more extreme
views are growing among, second-generation Muslims in Norway,
similar to situations in the UK and in Denmark. End Comment.
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